The playing surface of Busch Stadium has been transformed from a baseball field to a soccer field. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Two of the most storied English Premier League clubs, Chelsea and Manchester City, are in St. Louis this week for a historic exhibition match at Busch Stadium tonight 7:30 p.m. CST. This will be the first international soccer match at Busch Stadium, as well as the first non-baseball sporting event at the ballpark that opened in April 2006.
Thursday’s match is sold out, and there was a strong showing for Chelsea’s training session event on Wednesday.
On Monday, the Cardinals grounds crew began the process of reconfiguring the ballpark for soccer by removing the pitcher’s mound and installing sod in the infield and along the infield warning track. The soccer field will be finished by Wednesday. The 100 x 65 meter soccer playing field will span from just in front of the visitor’s dugout to the edge of the outfield in front of the home bullpen.
